9/15/2017 0 Comments Cats Weight Loss In SummerFeline Weight Loss: When Your Cat Losing Weight Isn't Normal. Feline weight loss, when unplanned, is something to be concerned about at any age. Unfortunately, a cat losing weight is often a sick cat, and this key cat illness symptom is easy for many pet parents to miss. Your cat, when healthy, will normally weigh the same year after year, except for those who gain weight. Good feline care includes knowing what a normal cat weight is for your feline and taking action when any cat weight loss occurs. Many cat illnesses have weight loss as one of the primary symptoms. I have examined thousands of cats over the last 2. I have seen healthy cats come in year after year weighing the same, almost to the ounce. There are two exceptions to that: (1) the cats that steadily gain weight and become overweight, and (2) cats that have an illness. Unfortunately, there are many, many misconceptions about cat weight problems. For instance, many believe that weight loss is a good sign, especially with the pet obesity epidemic. ![]() Also, many believe that a cat losing weight is a normal occurrence with age or is acceptable in small amounts, regardless of whether it is happening quickly or gradually over time. However, as you will learn throughout this article, these things are often not true. There is no disease in cats that causes weight gain. You may have read or heard otherwise, but this is simply not true. I have seen misinformation in various places over the years about this subject. For example, I have heard it said that cats gain weight because they are hypothyroid. Cats do not get hypothyroidism except in one type of situation. If a hyperthyroid cat has his thyroid glands surgically removed or has radioactive iodine treatment for feline hyperthyroidism, then it is possible that after the removal, the cat's thyroid levels may be low, either temporarily or permanently. ![]() However that is a man- made condition. Naturally occurring hypothyroidism, if it does exist, is so rare that your chances of having a cat with that condition are pretty much nil. ![]() The other time I have heard a disease blamed for a cat being overweight is in association with diabetes. I have heard it said that diabetes makes cats fat. That is not true. Is Fluffy looking like she's been on a diet for a bit too long? Encouraging weight gain can be hard -- cats will do as they please -- but there are tricks you can use. Weight loss shakes are a convenient form of meal replacement. They are usually part of a Meal Replacement Programme, which is a flexible weight loss plan designed to. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Feline weight loss, when unplanned, is something to be concerned about at any age. Unfortunately, a cat losing weight is often a sick cat, and this key cat illness. Shipping Speed Items & Addresses; FREE 2-day shipping: Items sold by Walmart.com that are marked eligible on the product and checkout page with the logo. Weight loss is common among people with cancer. It is often the first noticeable sign of the disease. As many as 40% of people report unexplained weight loss when. Sudden Weight Loss in Pets. By John Gilpatrick. While controlled weight loss, planned in conjunction with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist, is incredibly. Fat cats are more likely to get diabetes which will then make them lose weight if not treated quickly, but diabetes does not make them fat. If your cat is overweight, he is eating too much. Because cats tend to stay the same weight year after year or they gain weight, it is ALWAYS of concern if you notice your cat losing weight. There are some myths associated with feline weight loss as well. I have been asked or told many times by cat owners that their cat's weight loss must be due to growing older. But the age itself is not a reason for weight loss. A major problem with feline weight loss is our inability to see that it is happening until a significant decrease in the weight has occurred. For example, a 1. A pound is nothing, you say? Maybe to us. But a pound weight loss in a 1. That is significant. Too often, I have seen cats brought in for an examination only after they look like the cat to the left and this is MUCH too late! Unfortunately, when you look at your cat, you may not notice early weight loss. That first pound lost is not easy to see if your cat has been at a healthy weight for years. In an ideal world of ideal cat care, every cat owner would own a pediatric or feline scale and weigh their cats regularly throughout their lives. If this is not an option, although it is the most accurate, every owner would weigh their cats while holding him in your arms and deducting your own weight from his on your regular human scale. Many conditions would be diagnosed earlier if we all did that, allowing for earlier treatment and a better outcome. Feline weight loss is the symptom that worries me the most of any warning signs you may see at home. ![]() Losing weight is a tough challenge, but it is possible. Even if you have dieted in the past without lasting success, don’t give up. Now is the time to really commit. Many people worry about their cats getting fat, but unintentional weight loss can be a serious issue, too. It may be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Weight loss occurs when more calories are expended than are consumed. Healthy animals can experience weight loss, but in a geriatric cat, a subtle decrease in weight. It is the one cat illness symptom that most often has something serious associated with it. Cat weight loss can occur due to: - hyperthyroidism in cats- feline kidney disease- cat diabetes- feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)- cancer- feline inflammatory bowel disease- upper respiratory infections- cat dental problems... There's almost nothing imaginable that can't cause weight loss in cats. If you explore our Feline Illnesses index, you will see that weight loss can be and often is a symptom in any condition. This is another reason feline weight loss is a problem. Not only is it not obvious until too much weight has been lost, but it is so nonspecific as to the cause. One can never say, . There are so many causes that only a good history and physical exam by your veterinarian can narrow the possibilities and even then, blood work is often necessary, as can be more advanced radiography studies. You may even find someone in exactly the same situation as you! The following question, though, illustrates just how broad and vague these symptoms may be and how difficult it can be to diagnose. Abnormal cat weight loss can affect a cat of any age and any gender, and Erica's question is a perfect illustration of this. Erica wrote. About 3 months ago he started drooling, lost body weight, and was irritable towards the other animals in the house. The symptoms keep coming and going. But he has not gained all his body weight back. Had blood test done at the vet and they said his liver results were a little high but not out of the normal range. He likes to roll in dirt outside when he feels bad. He is normally an inside cat. If kittens and young cats lose weight, we become especially concerned. Drooling is also abnormal and his irritability could be significant if it never occurred before and now is an intermittent event. There are a few things that come to mind if I look at all his symptoms together: (1) Problems in the mouth. Were his teeth and gums examined very carefully, all the way back to his throat? Was his tongue closely examined, including the area under the tongue? Was there excessive gingivitis or any ulcers? Do his teeth need a professional cleaning? Are there any abnormal masses in the mouth? Any painful areas?(2) Toxins. Is there anything he can get into from time to time that is poisonous to him? Any plants, grasses, medications, rat poison, anti- freeze, cleaning supplies, construction materials? Does he lick anything indoors or outdoors on a regular basis? Even if a plant or grass is not truly poisonous, all can be irritating to the mouth and stomach of a cat.(3) Blood work was mentioned, but I don't know if it included testing for Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. If not, that testing should be performed. Cats with those viruses frequently have mouth problems and have feline weight loss. He's young and has spent at least some time outdoors so he certainly has been at risk for acquiring those viruses. Those are the top problems that come to mind with the symptoms described. Of course, other illnesses can cause those symptoms: kidney disease, other viruses, liver disease and others. However, his symptoms and his age and the blood results so far put these other things at the bottom of the list of possibilities right now for me. Also, of course, make sure he is eating a good quality, nutritious cat diet. Recommendations then include a very complete oral exam, under sedation if necessary, and perhaps a second opinion. I also recommend Fe. LV and FIV testing if that wasn't done or was done over 3 to 4 months ago. In addition, think hard and look around carefully to see if there is anything that could possibly be toxic to a cat. If none of these procedures come up with a cause and he still is too thin or losing weight and drooling, I would proceed to X- rays of his chest and abdomen. For more examples of feline weight loss questions and answers, please see the submissions at the bottom of this page. And remember, if your cat is losing weight, it's time for a trip to the veterinarian! She does go to the bathroom . Neely,I have an 8 year old male cat who has recently started gagging while eating but also while not eating (not licking . She is eating and drinking normally. She purrs and ? I am a vet tech student! My Sweet Pea is a 5 year old female DSH. A few days ago I noticed that she was not eating the amount of food she normally eats and she was sleeping ALOT . I feed her often. He always seems hungry and eats, but does not gain weight. He is now 7. 5 pounds. He throws up a lot and his stool is always diarrhea. She is an indoor cat and her. Weight loss occurs when more calories are expended than are consumed. Healthy animals can experience weight loss, but in a geriatric cat, a subtle decrease in weight can also be the first indication of illness. For example, cats with small intestinal disease may lose weight before exhibiting anorexia, vomiting, or diarrhea. Unfortunately, weight changes in older cats are often attributed merely to aging, so clients may not seek veterinary care or veterinarians may inadvertently delay a diagnostic workup until marked weight loss is evident or additional clinical signs arise. Starting with a detailed history, work your way through a complete workup in these patients. ASK ALL THE RIGHT QUESTIONSTo start narrowing the differential diagnoses (see sidebar titled . Use open- ended questions to explore the owner's knowledge of the cat's diet, eating habits, and energy level: What changes have occurred regarding activity? What diet is being fed? How much, where, and how often is the cat being fed? What treats and supplements are given? How has the diet changed? How is the cat's appetite? For example, in some households, pets compete for food, and underfeeding results. Clients may feed a weight- loss diet and continue it even after an optimal weight has been achieved. An arthritic or visually impaired cat may not be able to make it to food bowls that are difficult to access, such as on a countertop or in a dark basement. And an inability to smell food, the administration of certain medications, or a systemic illness can result in a decreased appetite, even in cats being fed a high- quality, palatable food. And if an owner reports that the cat is interested in food but is unable or reluctant to eat, consider dental disease, oral or pharyngeal masses or foreign bodies, chronic gingivitis- stomatitis,1 or retrobulbar masses or abscesses. Many medications can cause gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Common examples are nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, chemotherapeutics, fluoroquinolones, amoxicillin, ACE inhibitors (e. Medications (notably doxycycline), improper medication administration, and reflux into the esophagus during anesthesia may cause esophageal stricture. Next, ask the owner about specific body systems and other clinical signs. Cats with abdominal pain may lie in an unusual position or object to being held in a way that puts pressure on the abdomen. Vomiting and diarrhea may help localize the problem to the GI tract, although these are nonspecific signs of many conditions.
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